Jet Airways' lenders are considering a plan to resolve its debt issues, top creditor State Bank of India said Thursday, amid media reports two main shareholders have yet to resolve their differences. “Lenders are considering a restructuring plan under the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) framework for the resolution of stressed assets that would ensure long-term viability of the company,” SBI said. Jet on Wednesday said a plan involving a cash injection by stakeholders and board changes was under discussion. Jet Chairman Naresh Goyal said in a letter to SBI’s chairman that he is willing to invest 7b rupees ($98.48m) in the airline and pledge all his shares but wants to retain a 25% stake in the carrier he founded, TV channels reported on Thursday. However, Etihad Airways, which holds a 24% stake, wants Goyal to step down from the board and cut his stake to 22 from 51%, according to reports. Etihad told the SBI in a separate letter it was willing to buy more shares in Jet and immediately pump $35 million into the troubled carrier if Goyal does so. Jet said Thursday that Goyal had communicated his position to SBI and that it was under consideration. <br/>
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Newly-appointed Aer Lingus CE Seán Doyle has dismissed fears that a hard-Brexit could ground flights. The UK looks increasingly likely to crash out of the EU without an agreement on March 29, prompting fears that flights between the jurisdiction and the EU could halt temporarily. However, Doyle said that there was no risk of this. “We will continue flying as we have done on 30th March as will do on the 28th,” he said. Doyle was speaking as Aer Lingus revealed a new brand that will see its aircraft convert to a mainly white livery. This marks a shift from the mostly green colours that it has used in recent decades. The new colour scheme still includes green, which will be visible on the tail fin and other areas, while Aer Lingus is keeping the shamrock that its craft have carried since the mid 1960s.<br/>
Aer Lingus has unveiled a major brand identity update, as it seeks to maintain its position in what it describes as the leading value carrier on transatlantic routes. At an event at Dublin Airport Thursday, COO Mike Rutter said its new business model involved 50% of its passengers using Dublin as a connecting hub between North America and Europe. The Irish capital has become increasingly popular with transatlantic travelers in recent years, particularly with residents of the UK regions seeking to avoid traveling via London Heathrow and Gatwick. Dublin’s attractions have been aided by the establishment there of a US immigration pre-clearance facility. Aer Lingus has sought to capitalize on this in recent years by opening up a raft of new North American destinations. The Irish flag carrier’s growth plan will see its North Atlantic fleet expand from 17 to 30 aircraft by 2023. Aer Lingus plans to grow its Airbus A330 fleet to 16 aircraft (from 13 in 2017) and to invest in 14 new A321LRs to provide capacity for growth across the Atlantic and within Europe. Rutter said that, despite Aer Lingus’s relatively small size, it had consistently punched above its weight in the marketplace.<br/>
State-owned Flydubai has approached banks for a $300m syndicated loan, sources familiar with the matter said. The debt facility is needed for aircraft pre-delivery payments, said the sources, who did not want to be named because the matter is private. A flydubai spokeswoman said: “we are always looking at ways to further diversify our sources of funding and when we have a new announcement to make it will be made at the appropriate time.” Airlines mainly pay for aircraft when they take delivery, not when they order them, but have to make downpayments as delivery approaches.<br/>
Spirit Airlines is making Raleigh/Durham its newest destination. The fast-growing budget airline will debut at the North Carolina airport May 2, launching seven different nonstop routes (story has details). Raleigh/Durham will become Spirit’s third destination in North Carolina, joining Asheville and Greensboro. It’s also part of an ongoing rapid nationwide expansion by Spirit, which also has already announced plans to add Austin and Indianapolis to its network in 2019. Flights from Jacksonville, Florida, began in December. Spirit’s new lineup of flights at Raleigh/Durham “will allow our guests to get to some of the largest destinations in Spirit’s network, including those in the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Matt Klein, Spirit’s Chief Commercial Officer.<br/>